Just Call Me Angelina

I'm such a do-gooder.

As most of you already know, one of my best friends came down to visit me last month. While showing her around Huntington Beach, we were accosted by a smooth-talking fellow with Save The Children Foundation. After his little speech, we both walked away new mothers. My friend "adopted" (sponsored) a child from India, and I, a little boy from Africa.

This week, I got my first letter from the Foundation with two adorable pictures of Mezgebu, my child from Ethiopia. He's completely adorable, I love him to bits, and the farm animal-slash-flower drawing he made went right up on my fridge.

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to make a difference in the life of a child who can still smile so brightly, despite the condition of his country. For only $28 a month, Mezgebu gets the healthcare and education he deserves. It's so much better than spending it on another top I don't need from Forever 21 or a night out at Ma'Kai.

You bet my little Mezgebu is getting letters and pictures from his North American mommy all the time.

Oh, and along with some new clothes -- so that not only will he brightest boy in town, but the smartest dressed, too.


www.savethechildren.org

Holding You For Ronson

Mark. Sam. Charlotte.

Must be nice being part of the high society, hipster Ronson clan -- the spawn of funky society swan Ann Dexter-Jones. Mark's a DJ. So is baby sister Sam (let me tell you, she is a teeny tiny thing in person!). And middle child Charlotte is a clothing designer.

With a new partnership with Japanese clothing company Sanei, C. Ronson is going high-end with the debut of the Charlotte Ronson collection. Charlotte has come a long way from her last few C. Ronson collections. The initial seasons were a bit bland -- in my humble opinion -- but this last 70s inspired collection in stripes and shiny, happy colors will take you stylishly through this Summer '06.

PS. I'm totally digging her Fall '06 collection, which is a Southwestern cowgirl theme. Lots of red, white, and blue (tan, purple, brown, and green, too)!

www.cronson.com

I'm Lovin' it: The BJ Brewery Pizookie. A serious no-no if you're trying to get svelte for bikini season or heading back home to attend an old friends-infested wedding, this is the ULTIMATE dessert. A warm, soft-baked cookie in a skillet smothered in vanilla ice cream. Warning: this will be your only meal of the day.

I'm Over it: Trying to stay svelte for the weekend. Damn straight, you bet I had that Pizookie today!

Track of the Day: "Plain As Day" by Jake Childs. This down-tempo house artist is breezing through the City of Angels on October 26th. Picture you, killer stiletto heels, a packed dance floor, a dirty martini, and Jake Childs. www.myspace.com/jakechilds

* Photos property of 80spurple.com and shopbop.com

Feeling A Little Ruffled (Again)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're tired of me singing the praises and extolling the beauty of ruffles on clothing -- couture or ready to wear, Lanvin or H & M.

But you can't look at the three outfits below and not fall in love with ruffles, too.





After that horrific green sack of a dress SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker, for all your lay fashion-heads) wore to a recent red carpet event, I'm ecstatic to see she's back in fighting form. You go, Carrie Bradshaw!

* Shout out to Linda Evangelista in the yellow number as well!

I'm Lovin' it: My $7 cotton Gap peasant blouses. I got them in magenta, bright green (not neon), and chocolate brown. And I'm so obsessed with snagging the other colors (bright blue and yellow), I'm willing to drive to the Gap in Newport Beach (on the PCH) to get them, 'cause you all know that I already checked the westside and they're SOLD OUT.

I'm Over it: All snarky comments about Brokeback Mountain being a gay cowboy movie. I finally saw it yesterday (while eating vanilla ice cream and brownies with my roomie, I'm paying for that on my run today. It's a tragic love story, people.

Track of the Day: "Stars Are Blind" by (*ahem*) Paris Hilton. Whatever, I know you guys secretly love it, too!!!!!


* Photos property of glam.com

Bubble Head

I've always been a fan of the Puff: cream puffs, Puff the Magic Dragon (though I think I may be over that one), the Powder Puff Girls, actual powder puffs (Benefit has the cutest packaging, like "Kitty Shops New York"), Puff Daddy (aka. P. Diddy, of late), and now puff silhouettes on the runway.

Now, I highly agree that these voluminous shapes are best made for slim-ettes: the Lindsay Lohans, Nicole Richies, and runway models of the world. I also agree that there is something very alluring about a puffed-sleeve jacket (think Chanel, not Nautica), puffed-sleeve dress, or puffy bubble-skirt. Which must be why they've been all over magazine editorials and catwalks recently.

Here is a look from Captain Karl at the very recent Chanel 2006 couture show in gay Paree:

Only Karl Lagerfeld can do two puffs in one design, pair it with skinny jeans and have it look so fabulous! The photo basically screams, "Romeo and Juliet does Los Angeles", non?

Being an Angeleno -- where leggings paired with flirty dresses and tunics seems to be de rigeur these days -- I have the faintest idea where the puff look fits in for me. God, methinks I need to become an A-List actress, just so I can do the red carpet in that Chanel number.

Guess this time I'm just going to have to puff, puff, and pass.

I'm Lovin' it: Beach cruisers. Have I already done this as a "Lovin' it"?? This is definitely a sign that I'm obsessed with owning one. Have fun obsessing over having one for your very own at www.beachbikes.net.

I'm Over it: All the articles on "The Devil Wears Prada" movie and book. We get it: the fashion world still loves Anna Wintour and loathes Lauren Weisenberger. Heck, I probably even dream about being Anna Wintour in my sleep!

iTunes Stream of the Day: DI.fm Deep House. Just click into the radio section of iTunes, click on the electronica genre, and scroll down to the stream. As the description states, it's "silky sexy deep house music direct from New York". And I just can't get enough of it while I work.

* photo property of fashionweekdaily.com

Texas Hold 'Em

Yee haw!

Well, that's what I should have yelled out when I spotted the sign declaring my entrance into Texas via roadtrip with a friend. Instead, I tried to take a picture with her digital camera, which turned out terrible because of the time delay.

After a loooooong drive to the Lonestar State, I got to spend one and a half days in the land of cowboys before getting in the car to return home.

Here is my take on Texas:

1. It's a really nice place, though the abundance of flatland gave me serious mountain-yearning pangs. How can you tell I've live on the west coast my whole life?!

2. Dallas is more of cosmopolitan city than I thought! Impressive stores and a load of hip places for people to have drinks, enjoy a bit of dancing.

3. It's got to be the only state where people actually say, "You're welcome!" when you say, "Thank you!"

4. The Texas folk and inhabitants of the small towns in between (FYI: don't drink too much water on a roadtrip) did not seem to understand my L.A. garb too much. I got a lot of stares for wearing leggings.

5. The population is really mixed, much to my surprise. I was picturing beauty queens and cowboys, but it's more like a homo sapien Noah's Ark.

6. There are churches on every street corner and God is always trying to teach you things from the Bible via billboard.

7. The damn state is so damn humid.

8. Dallas' young crowd is quite fashion saavy. My friend's friend was rocking some seriously hot patent red leather heels, Louboutin-style. Some (straight) guy at valet even said, "Those are nice pumps." (That's verbatim, too.)

I'm down for another visit to Texas, but next time I'm flying.

Giddy up and amen to that!